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Monday, October 14, 2013

A Time To Choose

No doubt many of you in Ireland will have heard of the TD (member of the Irish parliament) who has been told by his parish priest that he can no longer serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion following his support for the recent abortion bill. The TD, as has become the norm now, has gone to the media to express his woes and pain. In one article he is quoted as saying that he is horrified by attempts to intimidate him by "ultra right-wing elements in the Church" (by which I presume he means Catholics who reject abortion). It also appears that the same TD was using Church premises to hold his clinics (where a TD meets constituents) and he has now been told that he can no longer do so.

First of all no TD should be permitted to use Catholic Church property for meetings. Given we hear so much of the separation of Church and State, Catholic parishes should never facilitate politicians in their political work regardless of who that politician is, upstanding parishioner or not.

Secondly, I understand why the TD in question does not realise why he cannot be pro-abortion, or at least support the introduction of an abortion bill, and not continue to be a Minister of Holy Communion. Given that the Church representatives in Ireland, and many other places, have dodged the issue of abortion and the consequences for Catholics who support and facilitate it, it is understandable that there is a lot of ignorance out there.

Thirdly, what this TD's parish priest has done is entirely correct: this TD, having facilitated the introduction of abortion into this country, can no longer serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Mass nor should he be receiving Communion at all, not until he has made a public repudiation of his position having sought the Sacrament of Confession and perhaps even after doing some public form of penance. The same goes for all Catholic TDs in the Dail who supported the bill. Whether they like it or not they had a choice and they made the choice to support the bill and that has consequences for their souls and for their place in the Church.

Reading what the TD has to say I get the impression that he thinks he has a right to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and that the priest has no right to exclude him. This attitude is not unknown in Ireland today as some of those who are Extraordinary Ministers do actually believe it is their right. This again is not always the fault of lay people who serve in this role, but rather reveals another failing at the heart of the Church in Ireland - another failure of catechesis. No one has a right to be an Extraordinary Minister, it is a role whereby lay people may assist the priest with the distribution of Holy Communion at the priest's request if he honestly recognises that the distribution of the Eucharist will take an inordinately long time. There are a lot of conditions in there you'll note. But they are the conditions laid down by the Church for this role.

Finally I note with interest, in the Irish Independent's article on this issue, what the spokesman for the Irish Bishops had to say - there is no diktat with regard to politicians and Communion nor to their current relationship with the Church i.e. excommunication. There is a terrible fear in many Churchmen today to confront and challenge, a fear of offending people and a fear of the media. Walking the tightrope between pastoral charity and defence of the faith can sometimes be a precarious thing, but it is certainly made more difficult when it is being conducted down in the trenches with heads held as low as physically possible.

There are times when the truth most be proclaimed and action taken even if it offends people, even if people leave the Church, even if it means the media are going to drag you through the newspapers - that's the price we have to pay for proclaiming the Gospel. If Jesus had stayed in the trenches he would never have been crucified, and we would not have been redeemed. And today, how many souls are being lost because Churchmen and women are afraid to proclaim the truth? If that TD had heard the Gospel of Life properly proclaimed he may well have been aware of the choice he was making on the day of the vote and the consequences for him with regard to the Church. He may well have made the same choice but he would have been under no illusion that things could dandy along as per usual unchanged. But then again he may have thought twice about it and may have chosen life instead of death.

On this issue I would suggest a good meditational reading of St Augustine's Sermon to the Shepherds (Office of Readings, Monday Week 24 to Thursday Week 25).

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Novena to the Holy Family for the Cause of Marriage and Family Life in Ireland

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

Holy Family of Nazareth,

we bless and venerate you.

We commend to your care and protection

the cause of marriage and family life.

May the peace which reigned in your home

take possession of all hearts and abide in all families.

Confirm all men and women in the truth

so we may recognise what is good and right

and reject all that hinders life

and the true flourishing of humanity.

Guide the hearts of all citizens

that we may witness to the truth

in forming the laws governing our society.

Bless those who work for the protection

of marriage, family and life.

O Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

Holy Family of Nazareth,

We entrust our hearts and our lives to you.

Amen

Novena To Blessed Paul VI For A Miracle For An Unborn Baby Boy

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the witness of your Servant, Blessed Paul VI, who served you and the Church as Universal Pastor in difficult times.

As a pilgrim among pilgrims he sought to reveal the beauty and joy of the Gospel to the men and women of his time, choosing the way of gentleness and forbearance.

As Shepherd of the flock he sought to proclaim the truth in a time of great confusion in imitation of his patron the Apostle to the Gentiles.

As Servant he proclaimed the Gospel of Life and in doing so bore the cross of suffering and isolation in union with your Crucified Son becoming a Prophet in the midst of the growing culture of death.

As we beseech you to raise your Servant to be numbered among the Saints, may his example of faith, courage and patient endurance inspire us in our daily living of the Gospel and in our witness to Jesus Christ.

May we too be Prophets of life, respecting, protecting and cherishing the gift of life, most especially in its most vulnerable moments.

May we too be your missionaries at this time, seeking to transform the hearts of all men and women through the joy we find in Christ.

Hear our prayers, most Merciful Father, and grant us through the intercession of Blessed Paul the graces we now ask that you may grant a healing of baby Paul.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

Blessed Paul VI, pray for him

Prayer For Christians In The Middle East

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour of the world, look upon our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, who proclaim your Name and live your Gospel in the midst of persecution, strive and martyrdom. Save them, we pray, protect them, and hear our prayer that peace may come to the Land you graced with your presence.

Pro-Life Novena to St Gianna

Saint Gianna,
Wife, Mother, Doctor and exemplary Christian,
intercede with Christ, our Lord of Life
to help us in these times to proclaim the Gospel of Life;
to bring to an end the evil of abortion
and the conversion of those who promote it;
to help and console those women tempted to do it,
and to heal those who have had one.
Watch over Ireland in these critical days.
Amen.

Three Hail Marys.

About Me

Fr John Hogan, OCDS, a Secular Discalced Carmelite priest serving in the Diocese of Meath, Ireland, is the founder and current Father Director of the Fraternity of St Genesius, an international association of prayer for those in the arts and media. He co-hosts the television series "Forgotten Heritage" on the Eternal Word Television Network.

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Fraternity of St Genesius

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Assist the Church in her mission of evangelisation to those in the cinema and the arts. As a member of the Fraternity of St Genesius, you can be a missionary through your prayer, uniting yourself with men and women all over the world. In this International Family of Prayer, you can have a part in the New Evangelisation. For more information go to http://www.stgenesius.com/.